A tough schedule and Cofis devastating at the Rock.

I’ll be honest and admit that last week’s blog was the toughest thing I have had to write but failing to address such a difficult time for the club was not an option and before carrying on I want to make it clear that I hope I did not offend anyone when discussing the domestic licence failure. I know that the club’s Board is already working hard with Iwan and the Canaries Club to put into place a structure to move us forward and it’s exciting to see how things are progressing behind the scenes. With a bit of luck there will be a number of positive press statements coming from the Oval over the next weeks that will prove this, and hopefully help us kick-start the next phase in the club’s resurrection.    

Having finished the last blog by mentioning how impressively Iwan and the squad had played in defeating Llanfair United just two days after receiving the disappointing licence news I can’t wait now to turn my attention to the players’ unstoppable march to a league and cup double, although it will take a second blog to cover the final three matches of the campaign. 

The Cofis had three more league matches, and up to two cup encounters to play following the 6-1 victory over Llanfair and, on paper, it looked a tough schedule. The powers that be at the Cymru Alliance League had, for some reason, decided that the final sequence of matches would start with encounters against Prestatyn, Cefn Druids and Holywell in the space of six days which I thought was a bit much when considering that both the league title and league cup were at stake. All three outfits are strong, physical sides that had already given Town tough matches earlier in the season, so the schedule promised to be another big test of the players physical and mental strength but, as ever, their response was magnificent.  

First up was the league cup semi-final at home to Prestatyn. In my opinion, the Seasiders have been the best side to have visited the Oval all season and it’s been a mystery to me why they've been languishing in mid-table for most of the campaign. They were superb when defeating us on their last visit to the ground back in August but a lot of football has been played since then and, in all honesty, this encounter was a very different affair to that earlier clash. Although Caernarfon were made to work hard for the 2-0 verdict, I still thought the side was comfortable for large periods of the game and had a gear up the sleeve if ever it was needed. The victory was secured with goals from Jay Gibbs and Jamie Breese and if ever one player has improved over the course of a season, it’s Jay. I know I'm repeating what I've already said in earlier blogs but the midfielder has been outstanding this season and especially so since January. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the team’s run of sixteen successive victories at the end of the campaign has coincided with his impressive form and in addition to his all-round game, he’s also proved to be something of a free-kick specialist, finding the net on numerous occasions with his set piece efforts over the past months.

Jay Gibbs added another superb free kick goal against Prestatyn to his ever expanding list of netfinders.

The team has scored many spectacular goals this season and I decided a few weeks ago to introduce an award for the ‘Goal of the Season’. Just a few days before the Prestatyn tie I had asked supporters, through social media platforms, to vote for their goal of the season and whilst everyone who supports the Canaries will know that Nathan Craig was the recipient of the award, I don’t think it will come as a surprise that Jay featured in the list of goalscorers more than once and, on the way out of the ground after the Prestatyn tie I received a number of nominations for his strike that night, a cracking free-kick from twenty five yards that is still doing the rounds on youtube and facebook which you shoudl seek out if you haven’t already done so. Incidentally, Jamie Breese’s goal to seal our berth in the final was pretty good too!

Iwan finalising his team before the Druids match.

Next up was a trip up the A55 for a match that I'm sure most followers of the Cymru Alliance League would have been looking forward to immensely. Cefn Druids had been clinging on to the Cofis’ coattails at the top of the table for most of the season and, although Denbigh Town had enjoyed a superb late run of form to temporarily overtake Huw Griffiths’ side, I think it had always looked likely from early on in the campaign that Caernarfon and Druids would be battling for the title. The team travelled to ‘The Rock’ in great form and full of confidence whilst the hosts still harboured slim hopes of pipping us for the league following a number of good results in recent weeks.

The cliff face at the Rock was ready for Jamie Breese.    

The Cofi Army was out in force and arrived at the ground in great voice, some heading to the clubhouse for refreshmnents and a singalong. The official crowd for the match was four hundred and four and I’m sure that more than three quarters of those will have been hoping for a Town victory. I don’t usually visit clubhouses when on the team’s travels but decided to do so on the day and was pleased I did because the atmosphere inside was brilliant, and I’m sure it would have made the players all feel ten feet tall as they prepared for the match. I spoke with Nathan Craig a few days later and he told me that the team could hear the Cofi Army singing before kick-off and this had given them an extra boost as they attempted to win the league on the day.

A victory for Town would see us clinch the title whilst a draw would have prolonged Druids’ slim hopes but, as we now know, the Cofis proved much too strong for our nearest rivals and overpowered them on the way to an exciting 7-0 victory. Being totally honest, I would have settled for a draw before the match as Druids had seemed such a dogged side throughout the season, toughing out narrow victories and showing plenty of mettle on the way. They had not been high-scorers by any stretch of the imagination but everyone I have spoken with during the season had suggested they’re a strong, well-drilled outfit who like to play a less expansive game than Caernarfon. Unfortunately for them, however, this type of game was not enough against the Canaries and, from the moment Clive Williams put us ahead in the third minute the hosts struggled to cope with Town’s gameplan. 

The players and supporters celebrate at The Rock.

I had arrived early at the Rock in the hope of catching a word with Iwan and he was the first person I saw when approaching the clubhouse. He was as relaxed as I have seen him before a match which was unexpected given the importance of the encounter but, of course, he knows his players well and must have felt confident that they’d get the job done. Which they did, in style! Incidentally, someone must have arrived very early that morning because he or she had already been climbing on the cliff face that dominates one side of the ground, and left a message for our striker, Jamie Breese on it! (see photo.) 

It was a pretty devastating performance by the players and my only disappointment about the day is that the incident involving one of Cefn Druids’ players that has since appeared via video on social media seemed to take precedence in the media over Caernarfon’s impressive victory and title win. There’s really no need for me to discuss the matter further as the video clip can be seen by everyone and people can make up their own minds. Predictably, I received phone calls the following day from media sources I have never spoken to before who wanted to hear the club’s official take on the matter but there really was nothing for us to say, so I declined. Isn't it a pity that those who phoned me could not have shown even a little interest in the actual match? Before bidding farewell for now I just have to mention the magnanimous way in which Druids manager Huw Griffths accepted defeat at the end of the match, ensuring that his staff and players formed a ‘guard of honour’ for the Cofis as the title winners walked back to the dressing room. That could not have been easy but it was classy stuff from the manager and further proof that there are still some people in the game that know how to behave with other teams.

Before heading for home I popped into the clubhouse and am so pleased I did because I managed to get Jamie Breese to pose in front of a unique flag that is exclusive to the Cofis. I think the shot below says it all! 

So, the league title had been won, in emphatic style, and the Canaries had just three more matches to play before the final whistle of the season. Amongst other things I’ll be taking a look at these fixtures next time around, beginning with an encounter with our old friends from Halkyn  Road….

Heartbreak, a double header and bouncing back.

First of all, an apology is in order for not adding any entries to the blog over the last three weeks. It’s not that I didn’t want to but, to be honest, it’s been a hard time for everyone at Caernarfon Town Football Club, be it management, players, supporters and committee members and I just couldn’t bear to write about something that so ruthlessly took the winds out of our sails, albeit I’m sure not on a permanent basis.

I was as heartbroken as everyone else involved with the Cofis when the FAW announced they had turned down our appeal for the Domestic Licence, thus resulting in our superb team being unable to take its rightful place in the Welsh Premier League next season.

It’s still very hard to write about the matter but the club’s committee, of which I am a member, takes full and collective responsibility for failing to ensure that the criteria was met. We had thought that everything had been submitted to a high enough standard and therefore, at the time of the announcement, I was livid and held thoughts of writing a piece on the shortfalls of the FAW. Thankfully I thought better of it and am glad that I did because there’s no getting away from the fact that we failed as a committee in our efforts to get the licence.

I can be as bullish as anyone when things go well for the club but that’s easy to do and so I must also put my hand up and admit to getting things wrong and this time we did. I feel guilty about not doing more to help in the effort to get the licence, and will always feel that I’ve personally let down the players and supporters but I also am absolutely determined that it won’t happen again and will double my efforts as a committee member to ensure that everything is in place to secure promotion when we next win the league, which will hopefully be next season!

Daily Post reporter Dave Jones has recently written about how impressed he has been by the team’s response to the massive disappointment they had felt and he is right, the players have been magnificent and have shown to everyone that they are, by far, the best team in the Huws Gray Cymru Alliance League. Over the next week or two, my aim is to show just how impressive they’ve been in recent weeks by looking back at the team’s final matches of the campaign, beginning with the double header against Llanfair United.

The stand, the snack bar and the dressing rooms (top left)
at Llanfair Utd's Mount Field.

We had originally been scheduled to travel to Llanfair Caereinion in December but, with most of the team and a number of supporters having already arrived at the ground back then, the match had been called off, rather late in the day, due to a waterlogged pitch. The late call, whilst undoubtedly the right one judging by photos of the pitch, had been frustrating to say the least, especially when taking into consideration the 140 mile round trip it takes to get there from the Caernarfon area. On that day I had been travelling in the Chairman of Vice’s chameleon car (thus called due to having turned from its original silver colour to a robust blue after we’d received news of the postponement!) and it wasn’t a pretty sight as we vented our disappointment on a flask of coffee during a pit stop, or something called very similar! Anyhow, with this at the back of my mind, I had been hoping for decent weather in the days leading up to our rescheduled visit and, despite a snowfall on the morning of the match, the pitch was thankfully passed fit to play. Backed by a coach full of supporters, the team coped well with the wet and heavy pitch to win by a comfortable 3-0 margin.

It was my first visit to the Mount Field and it certainly has a unique charm. The first thing that struck me was the rather impressive stand that dominates the otherwise Spartan ground. It holds over a hundred spectators and has been built on what I think is called a ridge that slopes to the pitch itself. The view from the dressing room area, beside and slightly behind the stand, is pretty good, and more than a par with other grounds I’ve visited this season, which I hope the photo (left) proves. The other charming aspect of the set-up were the friendly ladies serving food and drinks in the snack bar, who were kind and helpful and kept smiling throughout, despite the score. Despite, or maybe because of, the hosts’ precarious position at the wrong end of the league table, the match proved a tough one for the Canaries. Llanfair were still fighting to avoid relegation at the time and battled well, giving it a real go against the league leaders, with the excellent James Davies proving a real threat up front. Despite this, however, Town showed plenty of battling qualities of their own to get the best of not only the opposition but also the pitch, which was definitely not conducive to good football. The players coped well, however, and the vocal Cofi Army were rewarded for making the long trip to Powys with another victory by their favourites. 

Nathan Craig during the Llanfair Utd match.

The undoubted highlights of the match were the goals, from Nathan Craig’s sublime free kick from twenty five yards, to Jamie Breese’s reflex header at the far post and then, finally, to Darren Thomas’ excellent run on the way to setting up Jamie’s second netfinder, and Town’s third. It’s hard not to wax lyrical about the goals at this point but, for fear of using too many superlatives, I’ll just use one word to describe them all – Class.   

The biggest disappointment of the day was getting mud-splashed after taking up a viewing position in front of the Main Stand for the final ten minutes. Oh, and hearing from a trusted source that  Cefn Druids had scored a last minute equaliser at Holywell to keep alive their title hopes! To be fair, it did not come as a huge surprise because Druids have made it a habit to score late on in matches, although we were all surprised it had not been a penalty this time!  

So, an enjoyable afternoon and another crucial victory for Town. Having done my utmost to clear the mud off my clothes I headed for home and, dreading the long, and winding road ahead (a nod to my friend Phil Roberts, who is a big Beatles fan!), I was given a real tonic whilst driving through Llanfair Caereinion, hearing the Cofi Army singing loudly somewhere, with the words Jamie and Breese prominent in their efforts!

The flags were out at the Mount Field.

We received the devastating news about the licence during the following week but, just two days after the FAW’s announcement, the players somehow still managed to put on another excellent performance to complete the double over Llanfair, scoring a 6-1 victory at the Oval. Those of us who have seen the team play under Iwan will be aware that he has instilled a steely determination in the side and every setback during the season has seen a positive response from the players. I think it’s fair to say that the licence news was rather more than a setback and yet the squad put on another fine performance, one that took them to within touching distance of the league title.

I’ll be honest and say that, for the first time since the days of David Rowe, I was dreading my visit to the ground, although for very different reasons to the dread I felt watching Rowe's side!

As it happened, the very first person I saw in the Oval car park upon arrival was Iwan and I felt rather awkward and embarrassed. Thankfully, Iwan is a gentleman and I’ll never forget how kind he was with me. I already held him in high esteem and those few minutes confirmed why. It also made me even more determined to make amends for the licence failure!
The players and supporters were also extremely kind and, whilst everyone had questions that needed answering, which would happen in an open meeting after the match, we all got together to support the team, and they responded in style!

Whilst Llanfair had proved tough opposition at their own ground, the superior playing conditions at the Oval was much more suited to Town’s technically gifted footballers and, from the moment Jamie Breese popped up with the opener in the fifteenth minute, nodding in from close range, the result was never in doubt. What happened immediately following the goal was the stand-out moment of the afternoon as Jamie and his team-mates headed towards the dugout where they celebrated with Iwan (left). Brilliant scenes and the perfect way of showing how close the players are to the manager and his staff. 

The runner-up for best celebration of the day was Paul Pritchard’s jump for joy after seeing Chris Gethin’s penalty sail high and wide of its target late in the match. Paul needed one more clean sheet to break his own league record (achieved in 2014/15) of fifteen shut-outs in a season. Unfortunately for Pritch, James Davies stopped him from achieving the feat in the final minute of the match but there were three matches still left to reach the target and he would eventually get to do it in style just seven days later.

Paul Pritchard was made to wait for his record breaking
clean sheet. 

Following the match, members of the club’s committee met with the players, management staff and Canaries Supporters club to discuss reasons for the Domestic Licence failure and, whilst I would not have been surprised in the least if we’d been criticised and berated, everyone showed a lot of class and understanding and, although undoubtedly disappointed and frustrated with the situation, they were very fair with us. The meeting had not been easy for anyone in that room but it was absolutely right to hold it. Questions needed to be answered and the passion and commitment of everyone present spoke volumes about why Caernarfon Town is a special club.

Kevin Lloyd takes on his marker against Llanfair Utd. 

Iwan’s motto since arriving at the Oval has been ‘One Club’ and what happened in the meeting epitomised this.

We’ve had subsequent meetings as a committee and it seems there will be a number of changes at the club over the next few weeks, which I am sure will see us striding on to greater things. We need to get things right as a matter of urgency and are determined to do so. It’s the least we can do for Iwan, the squad and supporters.         

Next time out, I'll be looking back at how the team reached the League Cup final, how the league was won in emphatic style, and how old adversaries can sometimes surprise us....